Hat-shaping machine.



Patented Aug. 28, I900. 13. wrvouus.

HAT SHAPING cums.

(Application filed (No Model.)

lUrrn o STATE PATENT. O iucEi OHARLESW. YOUNG, OF MILFORD, MASSACHUSETTS.

HAT-SHAPING MACHINE.

$TECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,708, dated August 28, 1900.

' Application filed January 15, 19O0. Serial No. 1,413. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. "YOUNG,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Milford, in the county of Wbrcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hat-Pressin g Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to an improvement in liat pressing n1achines,and more particularly to a machine for pressing the crowns of hats.'

Straw hats are frequently made with fancybraid brims and plain crownsand womens hats have brims of fanciful shapes, and so in pressing and shaping hats of these kinds it has heretofore been the practice to make the crowns and brims separately, so that the fancy braid of the brim or the fancifullyshaped brim would not beinj ured in the pressing operation, and after the brim and the crown had been properly shaped and pressed they were sewed together. This method of procedure was necessarily adopted in the manufacture of such hats, while it-is desirable that the pressing and shaping operation should follow the making of the complete hat. With the object of simplifying the method of making hats and the avoidance of the shaping of the brims and crowns before they are attached together the present invention contemplates a hat-pressing machine for pressing the crowns of hats without at the same time pressing, shaping, or injuring the brim of the hat, and especially in the manufactu re of hats of the kinds above referred to.

I believe that I am the first to produce a hat-pressing machine for pressing the crown of the hat with the brim attached'and without pressing or shaping or injuring the brim, and my invention, while it is adapted to the making of various kinds of hats, is especially useful in the manufacture of straw hats of the kinds above referred to.v

My invention is notlimited to any particular form of machine, but is susceptible of being employed in connection with any desired hat-pressing machine; but in the accompanying drawing I have shown a part of a wellknown straw and felt hat press reorganized in accordance with my invention.

The die-seat 1 is slldingly mounted on the press=rods 2, which support the head 3. The

die-seat is raised into its position of pressure, as illustrated, and lowered into its position of clearance by any suitable mechanism, as the pitman 4. The'hat-die 5 is interchangeable with other dies to adapt it to the various shapes of hats which it may be desired to press in the machine, being loosely supported in the die-seat in the, usual manner. Upon the lower end of the head is mounted the brim-protecting flange 6. The rubber hatbag 7 is also secured to the lower end of the I head and preferably with its edge clamped be tween the edge of the protecting-flange and may be unnecessary, it is generally desirable to provide this part of the protecting-flange with a flexible washer 9, which is made of strong flexible material, such as leather or rubber reinforced with canvas, which projects down into the crown of the hat and prevents the elastic hat-bag from bursting outwardly between the hat-die and the edge of the protectingflange. I

The operation of my improved hat-pressing machine is as follows: Starting with the hatdie in the position of clearance, the hat is laid in the die and the die is raised into the position of pressure. The hydraulic pressure is then applied to the hat-bag and the crown of the hat is pressed and shaped to fit the hat-die; The brim of the hat, whether of roo claim as new and desire to secure by Letters flange, saidflange having a flexible washer 1o Patent of the United Stat es around the opening therein, substantially as 1. In a hat-pressing machine, the combinadescribed.

tion with a hat-die, of a hydraulic 'headpro- In testimony whereof I affix my signature vided with a hat-bag and a brim-protecting in presence of two witnesses. flange, substantially as described. CHARLES WV. YOUNG.

2. In a hat-pressing machine, the combina- WVitnesses: tion with a hat-die, of a hydraulic head pro- HORACE VAN EVEREN, videcl with a hat-bag and a brim-protecting ALFRED H. HILDRETH. 

